Does feeding white bread to wild birds cause foot deformities?

Question

We were feeding birds bread and someone approached us and said white bread caused foot deformities in wild birds. I have not been able to verify this.

Answer 1

I have never heard of white bread causing foot deformities; however, it is not proper nutrition for wild birds. Birds do not have the ability to digest the refined sugars and the processed flour in bread. Also, it can be harmful, even fatal, to waterfowl.

"Another reason to restrain from feeding Ducks is that although Ducks seem to love bread, it is not nutritious. White bread in particular is made from refined flour and is not proper for avian nutrition. Many Ducks suffer from degenerative liver disease because they eat too much. Also, leftover bread and Duck droppings pollute the water. The uneaten bread turns into a deadly mold called Aspergillus, which is fatal to Ducks, fish and other animals. Rotting bread can also breed other deadly diseases and parasites, particularly a Duck virus Enteritis, which with a single outbreak will kill all the Ducks of that area.

Duck droppings can also breed diseases such as Avian Botulism and a parasite that causes swimmers itch.

Feeding Ducks bread is like feeding Dogs chocolate. They may seem to like it but in the end it does more harm than good"

http://www.kingphilip.org/kphigh/metacomet/issue5/article2.html

Answer 2

Foot deformities are not specifically caused by white bread.

White bread lacks in nutrients that birds need, so a supply of white bread may mean that they don't look for other better food. However, it is full of calories, which birds need.

As long as white bread is not the only thing in their diet it is not a problem. Brown wholemeal bread is much better though, and uncooked grains are best of all.

Answer 3

you will discover that maximum parks and ponds the place human beings feed the geese have indicators that say in case you are going to feed them something, make it wholegrain bread. The white stuff isn't solid for them. So mutually because it ought to be perfect to have a birdfeeder with seeds meant extremely for birds or not something in any respect and enable them to fend for themselves, the only form of bread you will desire to truly supply them is brown.

Answer 4

Totally incorrect. They might suffer some nutritional problems if that's all they ever eat, but white bread isn't bad for them.

Whole wheat is nutritionally better, though.

Answer 5

Of course you can't verify it. Some nutcase wandered by and made it up just for laughs.